Humidifier



Aug. 21, 1951 N. J. DOVOLIS 2,565,210

HUMIDIFIER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 21, 1951 N. J. DOVOLIS HUMIDIFIER 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 19, 1949 195i 7 N. J. DOVOLIS 2,565,210

HUMIDIFIER Filed Dec. 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 21, 1951 HUMIDIFIER Nick J. Dovolis, Minneapolis, Minn., assignor to Char-Gale Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application December 19, 1949, Serial No. 133,909

4 Claims.

My invention relates to humidifiers and, more particularly, to wick-type humidifiers adapted to be mounted on the outer shell or Wall of a conventional hot air furnace with the wick and wetting chamber projecting into the plenum or hot air chamber of the furnace.

An important object of my invention is the provision of a novel arrangement and combination of parts for efiiciently maintaining the water within the evaporating pan at a constant predetermined level, whereby to place a minimum of function upon the control valve in the supply tank.

Another important object of my invention is the provision of novel means for securing my structure to the wall of a hot air furnace or the like, whereby the evaporating pan may be maintained in an approximately horizontal position within the plenum chamber, irrespective of the slope of the wall to which the device is secured.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a novel arrangement of parts Whereby the evaporator pan and the Wick elements maintained therein may be readily inspected and replaced with a minimum of time and effort.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device which may be manufactured with a minimum of cost, which has a minimum of moving parts, and which consequently will require a minimum of replacement due to wear.

Still further objects and advantages of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings, wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views: Fig l is a view in side elevation of my novel device secured to the plenum chamber of a hot air furnace, some parts being broken away and some parts being shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a view partly in plan and partly in horizontal section, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section, taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1-;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged vertical section, taken substantially on the line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5.is. an enlarged section, taken substantially on" the line '55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged view, partly in section and partly in front elevation, taken substantially stantially toFig. .1, but showing my novel'humidifier mounted on -a vertical wall, of a furnace.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive, of the drawings, the letter A indicates a hot air furnace having a hot air or plenum chamber B in its upper portion. To the inclined wall C of said plenum chamber is secured, by means of screws or the like I, a mounting plate 2. The mounting plate 2 is provided with a centrally positioned inspection opening or aperture 3 which,

at its lower central portion, is reduced as at 4. As shown, particularly by reference to Figs. 1 and 2, the mounting plate 2 is provided with a pair of integrally-formed laterally-spaced ears 5 which are pressed outwardly thereof and which are adapted to slidably receive the bottom edge 6 of an inspection plate I adapted to overlie and close the inspection opening 3. Screws or the like 8 are adapted to removably secure the inspection plate I to the mounting plate 2.

The mounting plate 2 is provided with a pair of laterally-spaced parallel slots 9, which extend vertically downwardly from the inspection opening 3. Likewise, the inspection plate I is provided with aligned upwardly extended slots 9a, which cooperate with the slots 9 to provide recesses for the reception of one each of a pair of elongated frame members I9. As shown, the frame members II] are notched at II preferably in spaced relation to their outer ends, identified by the numeral l2. The notches I I receive therein that portion of the mounting plate 2 at the bottom of the slots 9, whereby to prevent accidental longitudinal movements of the frame members ID.

The above arrangement obviously allows for rocking movements of the frame members I0 in the slots 9. To adjustably lock the frame members against such rocking movements, I provide a pair of thumb nut-equipped bolts l3, which project laterally through a pair of integrally formed inturned flanges I4 on the mounting plate and aligned segmental slots I5 in the frame members It. Frame members ID are preferably formed from a single piece of stock. Preferably and as shown, the frame members II] are formed by securing together, by means of rivets or the like "la, the overlapped free ends of opposed U-shaped members I02) and I00, the latter of which projects through the slots 9 in the mounting plate. Secured by welding or the like to the closed outer end of member I00 and carried by the frame member I0 is a fluid supply tank I 6 having a fluid inlet pipe I'I thereto and a conventional toggle-type float valve assembly, identified in its entirety by the numeral I8. A tubular conduit I9 in the lower part of the supply tank I6 extends through a slightly elongated opening 20 formed by cooperating notches 20a and 20b in the inspection plate I and mounting plate 2, respectively. At its inner end, the conduit I9 ,stantially horizontal position,

projects into a relatively shallow evaporating pan 2| carried by the inner end of the frame members l0,'where its-inner end'is partially closed by a circular 1 relatively stationary valve plate 22, having a circumferentially-spaced series of restricted valve openings or orifices 23. Pivotally secured as at 24 to the relatively stationary valve plate 22 is a relatively movable valve plate 25, having therein a series ofrestricted orifices 26 corresponding to the orifices 23 in'the relatively stationary valve plate 22. .Athandle element 21 projects radially upwardly .to facilitate manipulation. A plurality of evaporating wicks 28 formed from spun glass or the like have their reduced lower ends 29 snugly received, one each within the :longitudinally-spaced slots 30 of a V-shaped racka3 l With-devices f this type, it is desirable to initially positionthe .evaporatingpan in a suband thereafter maintain the -same :in a horizontal position, in order that the lower ends 2 9 of all of the evaporating :wicks 28 be adequately submerged in fluid, irrespective of their position within the evaporating pan 21. With mynovel arrangement of.parts,-:th is may be accomplished by adjustment of the thumb nut-equipped bolts 13 in the. slots 15 of a-theframe members irrespective of whether the mounting plate-2 is secured 'to aninclined wall C; as in Figs. 1 to 7, inclusive,

or whether the sameis -secured to a vertical wall,

as in Fig. 8.. In'F ig; 8,-the plenum chamber is identified by the letter X, and the front wall thereof by 'theiletter Y. All other parts are identical withFigs. 1-to '7, inc1usive, and bear the same numbers.

As the WateraZ in-the supply tank 16 reaches a given level, ithe fioat valve assembly 58 cuts offthesupply thereof ientering from the fluid inletpipe "ll, said water orother evaporating fluid enters the conduit l9 where its flow into the evaporating ,,-pan 2| may be regulated as desired by manipulation of the handle 2?. It will-beunderstood thatby manipulation of the orificed valve plates "-22. and 25, therate of flow into the evaporating. .pan" 2l from'the constant level reservoir L6,;and the resultant rate of evaporation, may be variably maintained as desired substantially in'dependently 'of'the fluid level or slight variations 'in fluid level within the constant level reservoir l8. 1 In the device illustrated,

the rate of humidification or evaporation is controlled by regulation of-thelorificed valve plates 22 and 25 to restrict the' flow'through conduit 19 to something below .the maximum rate of evaporation from the wick-equipped evaporating pan'2l, which, of'course, results in the maintenance Qfvarying' fluid. levels in the evaporating pan from a maximum level determined by the level in reservoir [6 to a low level point where some or the wicks-28 are wholly or largely starved ordep'riVd of liquid. In this manner, very precise regulation of-the rate of evaporation'or humidification isachieved substantially independent of the-fluid level in reservoir l6, or'such slight variations therein as are inevitable under control of float valve l8, and the frequency of operation of the float valve is greatly reduced as compared to devices wherein the rate of evaporation :is controlled ahead of or at the inlet side of the constant level float valve is or its equivalent.

My invention has beentested' and found to be completely satisfactory'for the accomplishment of the above objects, and while I have illus- 4 trated and described a commercial form of my invention, it should be obvious that the same is capable .of modification without departure from the. scope of the appended claims.

What Iclaim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a mounting plate adapted to be secured to the wall of a heating chamber, a pair of laterally-spaced vertically-extendedslots in said mounting plate, a pair of laterally-spaced frame members extending throughsaid slots, said frame members having notches in their lower edges. said notches receiving that portion of the mounting plate defining the lower ends of said slots and mounting said frame members for rocking movements, meansfor adjustably lockingsaidiframe members to said mounting -plate ..against rocking movements, a fiuidsupply tank carriedibysaid frame members outwardly of said mounting plate, a'generally horizontally-disposed evaporator pan carried by .said frame, members inwardly of said mountingplate, and a gravity flow conduit. through saidmounting platesconnecting said supply tank with-said5evaporator pan.

-mounting the former; in .the latter f-OI';10Ckil'lg movements, means; for adjustably lock-ing .-.said frame "members against :rocking movements in said slots, a fluidssupply tankicarried by said frame members v outwardly of said mounting plate, a generally horizontally disposedtevaporator pan carried by said' frame membersinw-ardly of said mounting plate, and a gravity flow con duit through :said 1 mounting plate :connecting said supply tank with said. evaporatorpan.

3. The structure defined-in claim 2 .in-whioh said means for JadjuStably locking :said .frame members in :said islots comprises integrallyformed inturned flanges on said-"mounting plate,

' and thumb nuteequippediscrews extending laterally through '-said flanges and engageable with segmental slots in said frame members.

4. The 'structureldefined in claim .2 invwhich said mounting plate land :inspection plate .00- operatively defining an-elongated -.slot .intermediate said spaeedislots1-forxthe reception of said conduit.

;. NICK :J.1DOVQLIS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references-" are of record in the file of this patent:

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